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| | | From Shetland to the Scilly Isles, Open Country travels the UK in search of the stories, the people and the wildlife that make our countryside such a vibrant place. Each week we visit a new area to hear how local people are growing the crops, protecting the environment, maintaining the traditions and cooking the food that makes their corner of rural Britain unique.
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|  | Isle of Man
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The Isle of Man, in the middle of the Irish sea between the coasts of Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales, is a unique self governing kingdom, which belongs neither to the United Kingdom nor the European Union, although in the past it has been ruled by the Scots, the English and the Vikings. It has its own language and its own laws and its own currency.
 | Manx steam railway
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Richard travels on the Manx steam railway, which has been running since 1873 and still runs on time. Railway enthusiast Tony Beard points out some of the unique features of the Manx landscape and character.
Isle of Man railway info
Isle of Man transport info
Richard visits a hill fort near Tynwald to meets Dr Peter Davey, director of the Centre for Manx Studies, who shows him how the land was divided, possibly following ancient Norse boundaries, giving tenants equal rights and hence a feeling of equality and egalitarianism that lasts until today.
Centre for Manx Studies
The island's only nature reserve at the Point of Ayre is home to many different sea and shore birds. Enthusiast Chris Wormwell takes a walk along the beach with Richard and points out some of the birds that have stopped off on the island on their way south for the winter. The coast, a mere 10 or 15 miles from the Dumfries and Galloway coastline of Scotland, is also a popular spot for porpoises, whales and basking sharks during the summer months.
Isle of Man birding info
The Manx people are especially proud of their Viking ancestry and Richard meets two possible descendants of the Norse invaders who share their interest and skills in seamanship - the harbour master at Castletown and Pat Sweeney of Peel who is secretary of the Viking Longboat Assocation. Pat shows Richard the three replica longboats that are used for racing every summer and as a way of remembering the islanders' Scandinavian heritage.
The population of the Isle of Man has boomed over the past decades, with many people being drawn there by the excellent quality of life and low taxation rates, set by the island parliament, the Tynwald. But no matter how long these "stop overs" remain on the Isle of Man, they can never call themselves truly Manx. Castletown resident, Gwen Kitching explains why. She is also known locally as the swan lady as every day she feeds and takes care of the swans that congregate in the harbour and she takes Richard to meet some of the birds by the water's edge.
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